Adel Al-Moawdah is down on his luck these days. He has been sidelined by the organisation he led, the Salafist Al-Islah Society when he was removed from heading it, he was not given the guaranteed 2nd Deputy Speaker’s seat in this parliament – while he occupied the 1st Deputy’s seat during the last term, and now he has been branded an apostate by a new group in Bahrain calling itself Ansar Al-Khulafaa (Champions of the Rightly Guided, the 4 who ruled after the Prophet – pbuh).

Weird.

Apart from my differences with the good MP, he does not deserve to be branded a “kaffir” – an apostate – by anyone, for if he – a man of religion – is branded so, how would the rest of us be counted?

This of course is a very dangerous situation and it shows that our society – or at least elements in it – have descended to a very dangerous level in which death is their game, and that they happily and lightly apply to anyone who differs with them on opinion or thought.

This phenomenon is what started various wars and tore whole societies asunder, this is what is happening in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is what happened too in countries like Saudi, Iran, Sudan, Pakistan, Egypt, India, the Philippines and even the UK with the end result is the disruption of a way of life for the individual and communities because of these very grievous accusations.

This is a dire sickness which must be immediately treated. It is a cancer that should the community and authority leave unchecked, will lead to suicide murderers, bombs and strife to grip our country with untold innocent lives lost. It will completely remove any hope of progress and windows of opportunities from our future.

All for a difference of opinion.

We have a duty now more than ever to propagate the idea of tolerism in our society and that we can do by unashamedly standing up to those who condone violence as a way of life and who are so close-minded that they believe that it is them only who have the exclusive keys to Heaven. Their ideas are not inclusive, but exclusive and based on marginalising everyone else as unworthy; to them if you do not share their particularly thwarted view of life, then you just don’t deserve it.

Is it not high time – as Muslim countries and communities – that we rid ourselves of this mentality of cultural and religious terrorism, should there not be very stringent laws which criminalise this practice and punish those who choose that extremely dangerous weapon against dialogue and cultural understanding?

What does this mentality serve anyway? Accusing people of apostasy because they have “insulted Islam” only proves one thing and one thing only: that Islam is a weak religion that even a personal insult can bring it tumbling down. I don’t think it is, I think that Islam is a great religion which survived for more than 1,400 years and will continue to grow much beyond our own lifetimes – but only if we look at it with fresh eyes and seek the beauty within it and ostracize the violence.

It would not have survived this long had it been “defended” by the wholesale fatwas of apostasy against thinkers, writers and philosophers or even normal individuals. Islam does not need that kind of protection.

And every time we get a furore like this one, or like the wave of objections against the author Salman Rushdie being knighted or a scientist asserting that Earth is actually a sphere or any number of issues deemed “offensive” by the takfiris, Islam does get perceived to be a weak and ailing religion, one whose only method of survival is the killing of its critics!

It’s time for Muslims – in all their guises, disciplines and interpretations – to grow up and stop these continuous unnecessary temper tantrums and their idea of “protecting our noble religion”. It doesn’t need protection. What it needs are courageous people who could re-interpret ancient texts and try to punch holes in it without the fear or death – literally – hanging over their heads.

Our prophet said that a Muslim’s main facet is his mind, which he deemed much more important than all other rituals; isn’t it high time that we engaged ours then?

In closing, I offer my full support to Adel Al-Moawdah against the takfiris in Bahrain and call upon everyone to stand firm against those criminals.

Sure, there are some, and possibly many, who do not agree with his positions on certain issues, and his beliefs on how things are supposed to be done in general.

But again, he probably doesn’t agree with theirs. That doesn’t mean either party has the right to belittle the other, or accuse them of being whatever they seem to call each other nowadays.

This habit of calling each other “kaffirs” seems to have spread so much so that it has started to be taken lightly, for granted in fact, without those saying it thinking about the size of responsibility of such an act infront of the eyes of God. I don’t agree with some of his policies, yet he is in the position he is in, and I am not, so I will listen to what he has to say. Perhaps one day if I was in such a post, I would expect people to listen to what I have to say as well.

I don’t know why they started attacking him all of the sudden, and he’s thrown to the “so called” opposition to cuddle him. I think we need Manama Republic to explain to us whats going on behind the curtain.

First off congrats Mahmood on the new website look! I like I like! 🙂 I thought I was on the wrong site!

I second your post – the problem with those people is that they want to do business today, the way it was done 1400 years ago.

Islam 1400 years ago looked more like a political system with a religious justification than just a pure religion. This is why apostasy equaled traitor. For someone to become an apostate back then was the equivalent of saying “I renounce my allegiance to this union of Arab tribes.” And what would this person likely do? Probably join an opposing tribe/cult/Empire who would then be at war with the then young Arab-Islamic Empire. Hence traitor. Hence death.

Those were brutal times. While its somewhat understandable that someone back then get the death penalty for apostasy, today, this has no place.

This is because while Muslims of the early Empire saw Islam as their new political system, today’s Muslims do not see that, and identify Islam as simply their religion. Their political allegiances vary on what country they reside/live in. (roughly).

Basically someone needs to tell those bozos that they are 1400 years too late, and that we’ve “been there done that dude”. Easier said than done no less.

As far as current repercussions Mahmood, it seems clear from the article that those individuals made multiple death-threats. I would think this is enough to prosecute individuals on in the current legal system?

Obviously Mashtan has not bothered to read the hadiths (ahadith). In case you care to know, Mohammed killed a bunch of his enemies, including people that just criticized him for killing and plunder. It seems that poets and singers were among the most common victims, but old men and pregnant mothers also were murdered – with the prophet’s blessing. These incidents are so easy to find and so many I won’t even bother to give names and links – unless somebody doubts that this is true.

This is, in my opinion, maybe, who knows, the source of Islamic intolerance and the lack of freedoms in Islamic societies (And there is the problem of the hate and violence against non-Muslims in the Quran, but that is another subject for another day).

I know these radical (?) opinions and ideas are not very welcome in Muslim lands, but facts are facts, and we must be honest. If we are not honest, there is no hope.

Good work, Mahmood. I enjoy your blog and your sense of humor and outrage.

Obviously Mashtan has not bothered to read the hadiths (ahadith). In case you care to know, Mohammed killed a bunch of his enemies, including people that just criticized him for killing and plunder. It seems that poets and singers were among the most common victims, but old men and pregnant mothers also were murdered – with the prophetâ€™s blessing. These incidents are so easy to find and so many I wonâ€™t even bother to give names and links – unless somebody doubts that this is true.

Can you please provide authenticated evidence regarding the prophet being a tyrant and a murderer?

When the great philosopher, Bertrand Russell wrote a scathingly critical book, “Why I am not a Christain”, some Christians opposed it, But there were others who quickly reasoned saying, “its ok, let the poor man have his say. There are enough Christain Scholars and Philosophers to clarify and debate his book”. By raising a big hue and cry about defending our religions, we only make ourselves sound weak. So, I fully agree with Mahmood, on his comment related to Salman Rushdie.

these people ansar al khulafaa are a joke!! they should be mocked publically and to shame them publically in how they blacken and poison our religion.. last time i remember people branding other people Kafir was in 2nd grade with kids!! whoever knows or sees one of those bunch of idiots please SPIT on them!

Most of these names here are also found in this Islamic site that cites their murder as justification for killing people that are critical of the man you say encouraged free discussion:http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/misc/alshifa/pt4ch1sec2.htm): Quote: Similarly on the Day of the Conquest, he ordered the killing of Ibn Khatal and his two slavegirls who used to sing his curses on the Prophet. In another hadith about a man who used to curse the Prophet, the Prophet said, “Who will save me from my enemy?” Khalid said, “I will,” so the Prophet sent him out and he killed him – and so on… Follow the link and read it yourself. Do some research. Read the ahadith. It took me two months to read the 30 volumes of Tabari (all those night raids on villages…).

I apologize to Mahmood for this type of posting, but I feel that he can handle it. I think he prefer that his visitors be honest, even if offensive. Out of respect for his good work, I will be honest.

To me, the primary problem is not what Mohammad said and did. His acts were mostly common for a warlord of his age. The problem is the total lack of honesty among Muslims about these things. They don’t read their own writings, or if they do, they are intellectually and morally blind to what the words say. Because of this, things won’t change, but will get worse.

Personally, I find the whole thing beyond comprehension. How can Muslims read the ahadith and biographies of their prophet and not feel uneasy? How can they say he was a mercy for all mankind? Tell that to the people of Banu Mustaliq.

Sadly, it seems that the only Muslims that are honest about Islam are the so-called radicals. That is, in my opinion, why the radicals are gaining. At least they understand the meaning of words.

Well, that is it for now.

J. Kactuz (telling it like it is for 7 decades)

PS: Salman Rushdie didn’t make up the Satanic Verses story. Why the outrage now? It has been around for 1,200 years and was taken from Tabari (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_ibn_Jarir_al-Tabari) So why don’t Muslims issue a fatwa against old Tabari. That will teach him a lesson.

Personally, I find the whole thing beyond comprehension. How can Muslims read the ahadith and biographies of their prophet and not feel uneasy?

The same way Jews can read the Torah that is rife with violence and tribal justice and not feel uneasy? Or maybe the same way people in general can read about Roman conquests, genocide and brutality, yet somehow celebrate it via all those documentaries on the discovery channel? Just the other day after watching Conan O’Brien I switched channels and came across a program touting “The great Crusaders”, on ABC. (ABC had their disclaimer of course). Are Christians comfortable with that?

Thats the short answer. The long answer is that as with many others before you who have made similar charges, (I am starting to notice a pattern here), your mistake is dropping the context of the time, i.e, you would be hard pressed to find any empire, religion or ideology of that era that was not violent or brutal.

The violence and brutality has more to do with those times, than the religion. Of course one can always ignore this and state that Islam is just a violent religion. Well. Yeah. I bet it was. But so what? Who wasnt?

Today your average Arab Muslim isnt going to wait on your driveway with a kitchen knife because you might have written a scathing poem about him. Most of us have day jobs. By the same token, most of us arent going to just drop everything one morning, drive to a church, get butt naked and baptized in a pool just because it has just been brought to our attention that Muhammed killed a woman who wrote a poem about him.

Sadly, it seems that the only Muslims that are honest about Islam are the so-called radicals.

Ill tell you what John, if my grandma and I make a video of us beheading a teddy-bear while shouting “Allahu Akbar” at the top of our lungs, will you at that point kindly bestow the title of “Muslim” on my grandma? Please? Pretty please? Pretty please with a cherry on top? hahaha

You’re a funny man John! Thanks for giving me and my grandma a good chuckle! 😉

Thank you so much for the rearing rendition of the â€œSO WHATâ€ defense of â€œMuslimâ€ documentation of the founder of Islamâ€™s killing people that he disagreed with.

The pleasure is all mine Jack. 🙂

It is apparent that many many muslims worldwide â€œTODAYâ€ are longing for those good old days which from your statement you have no problem with.

Ahh yes, those pesky mooooslims! When will they learn! If only they accepted that Mohammed used violence against some opponents, maybe they could convert en masse to something less violent like Judai.. oh never mind.. hahaha!

I said nothing about converting. You seem to have the perversion about conversion.

But since “you” brought it up there is plenty of “muslim” documentation about that too and it’s not what in “today’s” world would be considered peaceful/tolerant.

And that is what I think Mahmood is trying to say in this thread. We are living today … not ancient times and muslims need to find a way to deal with it without some of the ancient rheteric that is being used by many idiots!

I said nothing about converting. You seem to have the perversion about conversion.

And I said nothing on condoning people who try to bring back that aspect of Mohammed’s life from 1400 years ago. Go and read my Post#9 please.

We are living today â€¦ not ancient times and muslims need to find a way to deal with it without some of the ancient rheteric that is being used by many idiots!

Learn to distinguish between “those idiots” and “Muslims” please. There are 1.2 billion Muslims. There are a handfull of idiots. Like I said before, Muslims do not conspire behind your backs to kill the infidel.

Distinguish. Distinguish. Distinguish.

Otherwise you fall in the same category as “those idiots” we are fighting against.

Let’s Connect

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